Configurable wireless device network

ABSTRACT

A method for a wireless network, including a node and a first device covered by the node, the node acting as serving node for the first device, and the first device transmitting first data to the node over a first link, includes determining presence of a second device covered by the node, the second device transmitting second data to a serving node over a second link, determining radio quality of the first link, determining radio quality of the second link, and determining radio quality of a third link between the second device and the first device. If the radio quality of the third link is higher than the radio quality of the second link, the second device transmits the second data to the first device over the third link and the first device retransmits, over the first link, the second data to the node.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation U.S. application Ser. No. 16/495,915,filed on Sep. 20, 2019, which is a '371 National Phase of InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP2018/056242, filed on Mar. 13, 2018, which claimspriority to Italian Patent Application No. 102017000035262, filed onMar. 30, 2017. The entire disclosures of the prior applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to wireless communicationnetworks, such as cellular networks. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to wireless networks including “Internet of Things”devices (for example, sensor devices), hereinafter referred to ascellular sensor networks.

Overview of the Related Art

A cellular sensor network typically comprises one or more “Internet ofThings” devices (i.e. non-human-oriented electronic devices withsensing/metering and internet connection capabilities, in the followingreferred to as sensor devices) connected to a conventional radio accessnetwork (e.g., a “Long Term Evolution” (LTE) or a “LTE-Advanced” (LTE-A)radio access network).

A cellular sensor network typically comprises a high number of low costsensor devices intended to transmit a relatively low amount of data in aday, reason why the sensor devices (or at least most of the sensordevices) should be able to transmit and receive data also in criticalpositions in terms of radio conditions (e.g., basements of buildings)and to work with battery for long periods (e.g., 10 years or even more)without being connected to a power supply.

S. Ahnad et. al, “Tailoring LTE-Advanced for M2M Communication usingWireless Inband Relay Node”, New York University, University of Bremen,W T C 2014, discloses a solution to integrate Relay Node in an M2Msystem. The Relay Node can increase the performance of the system byaggregating the data traffic generated by the sensors.

M. Saeed Al-katani, “ECSM: Energy Efficient Clustering Scheme for MobileM2M Communication Network”, University of Saudi Arabia, David C. Wyld etal. (Eds): CCSIT, SIPP, AISC, PDC, TA, NLP—2014, available at the dateof filing of the present application athttp://www.airccj.org/CSCP/vol4/csit41901.pdf, discloses a cluster-basedscheduling approach for Mobile M2M communication where it is proposedthe definition of a Primary Cluster Head (PCH) for the transmission ofthe control information, that is responsible for coordinating member MTCdevices, collecting data from MTC devices nodes and sending theaggregate data to the MTC gateway. Also several Secondary Cluster Heads(SCH) are defined and they wake up frequently to check the energy statusof the PCH. If the PCH fails due to energy shortage, the SCH with themost residual energy becomes the new PCH.

S. Nawaz Khan Marwat et al, “A Novel Machine-to-Machine TrafficMultiplexing in LTE-A System using Wireless In-band Relay”, Universityof Bremen, D Pesch et al (Eds.): MONAMI 2013, LNICST125, pp 149-158,2013, discloses a number of solutions to increase the effectiveness ofthe backhaul link used to relay the information to the Network Node(NN): data aggregation at the Relay Node, reduction of the granularityof the schedulable resources (less than 1 PRB), introduction of aQuality Aware Relay Node to handle different M2M transmissions andintroduction of an efficient PDCP algorithm to multiplex multiple uplinktransmissions.

S. N. Venkatasubramanian, K Haneda K. Yamamoto, “System-levelPerformance of In Band Full-Duplex Relaying on M2M System at 920 MHz”University of Alto and University of Kyoto, Vehicular TechnologyConference (VTC Spring), 2015 IEEE 81st, discloses a Full Duplexarchitecture for Relay Nodes in order to increase network performancecompared to the achievable one with an Half Duplex Relay Node.

WO2011136524, “Method and Apparatus for Transceiving data in a WirelessAccess System”, discloses a method which involves determining a relayterminal in an M2M communication system, and transceiving data to/from abase station or other terminal through the determined relay terminal,and a method for constructing frames for transceiving data in the M2Mcommunication system. By means of the data-transceiving method, an M2Mterminal can transmit/receive a signal to/from a base station or otherM2M terminal, and frames of a base station and M2M terminal can beefficiently constructed. Said method comprises: receiving, by a firstterminal of a wireless access system, a first message including a relayoperation parameter, which is information that indicates a transmittingor receiving operation, from a base station during a downlink sectionand/or uplink section within a frame; and transceiving, by the firstterminal, data to/from the base station or other terminal on the basisof the received relay operation parameter.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The Applicant has recognized that none of the cited prior-art solutionsis satisfactory.

Indeed, none of the cited prior-art solutions is adapted to provideincreased radio coverage and reduction of energy consumption of thesensor devices in heterogeneous and dynamic scenarios wherein the sensordevices have very different features in terms of shapes and performance(e.g., because of the place where they are located and the informationthey have to transmit), and wherein the sensor devices rapidly increaseor decrease in number in a certain cellular sensor network.

In view of the above, the Applicant has faced the issue of increasingradio coverage while reducing energy consumption of the sensor devices,and has devised a solution for dynamically configuring data relaying ofone or more sensor devices based on radio conditions experienced by them(and, preferably, based on other operative conditions and/orparameters).

Moreover, the Applicant has also found that the devised solution,although originally conceived for sensor devices for use in cellularnetworks, can be equivalently applied to any other “Internet of Things”device (i.e., any physical device, usually referred to as “connecteddevice” or “smart device”, or “network device”, embedded withelectronics, software, and network connectivity that enable it tocollect and exchange data) for use in whatever wireless network (such asWi-Fi or Bluetooth networks).

One or more aspects of the present invention are set out in theindependent claims, with advantageous features of the same inventionthat are indicated in the dependent claims, whose wording is enclosedherein verbatim by reference (with any advantageous feature beingprovided with reference to a specific aspect of the present inventionthat applies mutatis mutandis to any other aspect).

More specifically, an aspect of the present invention relates to amethod for configuring a wireless network. The wireless networkcomprises a network node and a first network device under coverage ofthe network node, the network node acting as serving network node forthe first network device, and the first network device being arrangedfor transmitting first data to the network node over a first radio link.The method comprises:

determining the presence of a second network device under coverage ofsaid network node, the second network device being arranged fortransmitting second data to a respective serving network node over asecond radio link,

determining a radio quality of the first radio link,

determining a radio quality of the second radio link,

determining a radio quality of a third radio link between the secondnetwork device and the first network device, and

if the radio quality of the third radio link is higher than the radioquality of the second radio link, configuring the second network deviceto transmit the second data to the first network device over the thirdradio link and the first network device to retransmit, over the firstradio link, said second data to the network node.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wirelessnetwork supports first synchronization signals and a first physicalrandom access channel for establishing a direct connection between thefirst network device and the network node and between the second networkdevice and the respective serving network node, and secondsynchronization signals and a second physical random access channel forestablishing a direct connection between the first network device andthe second network device. Said configuring the second network device totransmit the second data to the first network device over the thirdradio link and the first network device to retransmit, over the firstradio link, said second data to the network node is carried out if thefirst network device supports at least transmission of the secondsynchronization signals and reception on the second physical randomaccess channel, and the second network device supports at leasttransmission on the first physical random access channel and on thesecond physical random access channel and reception of the secondsynchronization signals.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said determining aradio quality of a third radio link comprises:

causing the second network device to transmit, to the network node andon the first physical random access channel, requests of radio resourcesand the radio quality of the second radio link,

causing the first network device to intercept said requests of radioresources and said radio quality of the second radio link, and

causing the first network device to determine the radio quality of thethird radio link based on the quality of said intercepted requests ofradio resources and said intercepted radio quality of the second radiolink.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said determining aradio quality of a third radio link comprises:

causing the second network device to transmit, to the network node andon the first physical random access channel, a first set of requests ofradio resources and the radio quality of the second radio link, and

in presence of a feedback of the network node at the second networkdevice about said transmitted first set of requests of radio resources:

-   -   causing the second network device to transmit subsequent        requests of radio resources following the first set of requests        of radio resources to the first network device on the second        physical random access channel channel, and    -   causing the first network device to determine the radio quality        of the third radio link based on a quality of the received        subsequent requests of radio resources.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said determining aradio quality of a third radio link comprises:

causing the second network device to transmit, to the network node andon the first physical random access channel, a first set of requests ofradio resources and the radio quality of the second radio link, and

in absence of a feedback of the network node at the second networkdevice about said first set of requests of radio resources:

-   -   causing the second network device to transmit subsequent        requests of radio resources following the first set of requests        of radio resources to the network node on the first physical        random access channel,    -   causing the first network device to intercept said subsequent        requests of radio resources, and    -   determining the radio quality of the third radio link based on        the quality of the intercepted subsequent requests of radio        resources.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said determiningthe radio quality of the third radio link is also based on evaluation ofthe second synchronization signals transmitted from the first networkdevice to the second network device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the network nodeacts as serving network node also for the second network device.Preferably, said configuring the second network device to transmit thesecond data to the first network device over the third radio link andthe first network device to retransmit, over the first radio link, saidsecond data to the network node further comprises:

causing the network node to send a first resource assignment message tothe first network device and a second resource assignment message to thesecond network device;

causing the first network device to transmit periodically the secondsynchronization signals, and

causing the second network device to synchronize with the first networkdevice according to the received second synchronization signals.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second resourceassignment message also contains the information on reserved radioresources that are reserved for Downlink and Uplink data transmission onthe third radio link.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wirelessnetwork comprises a further network node, the further network nodeacting as serving network node for the second network device.Preferably, the method further comprises causing the network node toinform the further network node about the availability of the firstnetwork device to which the second network device can transmit thesecond data over the third radio link.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said configuringthe second network device to transmit the second data to the firstnetwork device over the third radio link and the first network device toretransmit, over the first radio link, said second data to the networknode further comprises:

causing the network node to send a resource assignment message to thefirst network device,

causing the further network node to send a resource redirection messageto the second network device;

causing the first network device to transmit periodically the secondsynchronization signals, and

causing the second network device to synchronize with the first networkdevice according to the received second synchronization signals.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the radio qualityof the first radio link is based on the first synchronization signalsfrom the network node to the first network device. The radio quality ofthe second radio link is preferably based on the first synchronizationsignals from the respective serving network node to the second networkdevice.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method furthercomprises determining an energy availability of the first network deviceand an energy availability of the second network device. Saidconfiguring the second network device to transmit the second data to thefirst network device over the third radio link and the first networkdevice to retransmit, over the first radio link, said second data to thenetwork node is preferably carried out if the energy availability of thefirst network device is higher than the energy availability of thesecond network device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, said configuringthe second network device to transmit the second data to the firstnetwork device over the third radio link and the first network device toretransmit, over the first radio link, said second data to the networknode is carried out also based on at least one among:

an indication of a device network to which the first and second networkdevices belong;

an indication of a maximum transmitting power supported by the first andsecond network devices;

an indication about predefined transmission time periods of the firstand second network devices; and

an indication of position and mobility of the first and second networkdevices.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a computer programproduct directly loadable into a memory of a computer, and comprisingsoftware code means adapted to perform the above method when run on thecomputer.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a network node foruse in a wireless network. The wireless network comprises a network nodeand a first network device under coverage of the network node, thenetwork node acting as serving network node for the first networkdevice, and the first network device being arranged for transmittingfirst data to the network node over a first radio link. The network nodeis arranged for:

determining the presence of a second network device under coverage ofsaid network node, the second network device being arranged fortransmitting second data to a respective serving network node over asecond radio link,

determining a radio quality of the first radio link,

determining a radio quality of the second radio link,

determining a radio quality of a third radio link between the secondnetwork device and the first network device, and

if the radio quality of the third radio link is higher than the radioquality of the second radio link, configuring the second network deviceto transmit the second data to the first network device over the thirdradio link and the first network device to retransmit, over the firstradio link, said second data to the network node.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a device networkfor use in a wireless network. The device network comprises a firstnetwork device arranged for transmitting first data over a first radiolink, and a second network device arranged for transmitting second dataover a second radio link. With the first and second network devicesunder coverage of a network node of the cellular network, and with thenetwork node acting as serving network node for the first networkdevice:

if the radio quality of the third radio link is higher than the radioquality of the second radio link, the second network device is arrangedfor transmitting the second data to the first network device over thethird radio link and the first network device is arranged forretransmitting, over the first radio link, said second data to thenetwork node.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ANNEXED DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will bemade apparent by the following description of some exemplary andnon-limitative embodiments thereof; for its better intelligibility, thefollowing description should be read making reference to the attacheddrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a cellular network according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing, in terms of functional modules, aprocedure for configuring the cellular network, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing, in terms of functional modules,of a discovery phase of said procedure according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, and

FIG. 4 is a simplified swim-lane representation of a recognition phaseof said procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a wireless network, for example a cellular network 100,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The cellular network 100 comprises one or more network nodes 105 _(k)(k=1, 2, 3 . . . , K—with K=2 in the example at issue), such as thenetwork nodes 105 ₁, 105 ₂, configured to support connections with“Internet of Things” devices 110 _(i) (i=1, 2, 3 . . . , I—with I=26 inthe example at issue). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the“Internet of Things” devices broadly encompass physical devices (usuallyreferred to as “connected devices” or “smart devices” or “networkdevices”) embedded with electronics, software, and network connectivitythat enable them to collect and exchange data). In the exemplary, notlimiting, embodiment herein considered, the network devices 110 _(i)also feature sensing/metering capabilities, therefore in the followingthey will be referred to as sensor devices 110 _(i).

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thenetwork node 105 _(k) is a LTE/LTE-Advanced eNodeB, although this shouldnot be construed limitatively. The network node 105 _(k) isadvantageously connected to other network nodes, such as to core networknodes (not shown).

In the exemplary considered scenario, the sensor devices 110 _(i)comprise sensor devices (for example, the sensor devices 110 ₁, 110 ₄,110 ₉, 110 ₁₄ and 110 ₁₈) connected to a power supply or having (e.g.,due to better radio conditions experienced) a high or relatively highbattery charge (hereinafter referred to as higher-energy sensordevices), and sensor devices (for example, the sensor devices 110 ₂, 110₃, 110 ₅-110 ₈, 110 ₁₀-110 ₁₃, 110 ₁₅-110 ₁₇, 110 ₁₉-110 ₂₁ and 110₂₂-110 ₂₆) not connected to a power supply or having low battery charge(hereinafter referred to as lower-energy sensor devices).

Preferably, as herein assumed, each sensor device 110 _(i) (or at leastone thereof) is capable of transmitting data to the serving network node105 _(k) over a direct radio communication link (hereinafter referred toas direct link) and to a different sensor device 110 _(i) over a radiocommunication link referred to as relay link.

Moreover, in the considered scenario, the sensor devices 110 _(i) arelogically grouped into a number of (one or more) sensor device networksDN_(x) (x=A, B, C, . . . ), each sensor device network DN_(x)comprising, for example, a group of sensor devices 110 _(i) (i.e.,higher-energy and/or lower-energy sensor devices) with a same owner andplaced in a same, limited space (this could be the case of sensordevices 110 _(i) belonging to a same user).

In the exemplary scenario illustrated in FIG. 1, five sensor devicenetworks are assumed to be associated with the network node 105 ₁,namely: a sensor device network DN_(A) comprising the higher-energysensor device 110 ₁ and the lower-energy sensor devices 110 ₂ and 110 ₃,a sensor device network DN_(B) comprising the higher-energy sensordevice 110 ₄ and the lower-energy sensor devices 110 ₅-110 ₈, a sensordevice network DN_(C) comprising the higher-energy sensor device 110 ₉and the lower-energy sensor devices 110 ₁₀-110 ₁₃, a sensor devicenetwork DN_(D) comprising the higher-energy sensor device 110 ₁₄ and thelower-energy sensor devices 110 ₁₅-110 ₁₇, and a sensor device networkDN_(E) comprising the higher-energy sensor device 110 ₁₈ and thelower-energy sensor devices 110 ₁₉-110 ₂₁.

For the sake of completeness, one or more of the sensor device networksDN_(x) may comprise one or more additional sensor devices capable oftransmitting data only to the respective serving network nodes over thedirect links—these additional sensor devices being not shown in thefigure as they are not relevant for the understanding of the presentinvention.

Broadly speaking, according to the present invention, the network node105 _(k) (preferably a unit thereof, hereinafter IoT (“Internet ofThings”) unit)—or, in alternative embodiments of the present invention,one or more entities of the cellular network 100 external to the networknodes 105 _(k)—is configured to carry out a method or procedure(hereinafter, IoT (“Internet of Things”) procedure) for configuring thecellular network 100, and particularly for configuring one or moresensor devices 110 _(i) (advantageously, one or more higher-energysensor devices 110 _(i)) to perform data relaying on behalf of one ormore other sensor devices 110 _(i) (advantageously, one or morelower-energy sensor devices 110 _(i)) according to a radio quality ofthe respective direct and relay links.

In the following, each sensor device 110 _(i) selected to perform datarelaying (on behalf of one or more other sensor devices 110 _(i)) willbe referred to as network additional node, whereas each sensor device110 _(i) supported with data relaying (i.e., each sensor device 110 _(i)receiving or taking advantage of data relaying—or, otherwise stated,each sensor 110 _(i) on behalf of which data relaying is carried out)will be referred to as supported sensor device 110 _(i).

The radio quality of the direct links between each sensor device 110_(i) and the associated network node 105 _(k) allows distinguishingsensor devices experiencing better radio conditions from sensor devicesexperiencing worse radio conditions (so that only the sensor devicesexperiencing better radio conditions are taken into consideration forperforming data relaying, and only the sensor devices experiencing worseradio conditions are taken into consideration for being supported withdata relaying). In the following, by sensor device 110 _(i) experiencingbetter radio conditions it is meant a sensor device 110 _(i) having toperform a low, or relatively low, number of radio transmission attempts(for example, a number of radio transmissions attempts lower than astatically or dynamically predetermined first number of radiotransmissions) to achieve connection (e.g., successful transmission ofdata) to the network node 105 _(k) (such as a sensor device 110 _(i)located in places with low (or relatively low) signal attenuation (e.g.,outdoors)), and by sensor device 110 _(i) experiencing worse radioconditions it is meant a sensor device 110 _(i) having to perform ahigh, or relatively high, number of radio transmissions (for example, anumber of radio transmissions higher than a statically or dynamicallypredetermined second number of radio transmission attempts, preferablyequal to or higher than the first number of radio transmissionsattempts) to achieve connection (e.g., successful transmission of data)to the network node 105 _(k) (such as a sensor device 110 _(i) locatedin places with high (or relatively high) signal attenuation (e.g.,basements of buildings)).

For the purposes of the present disclosure, by data relaying it is meanta rebroadcasting of the received data to extend the broadcast reach. Inother words, a first sensor device 110 _(i) carrying out data relayingon behalf of a second sensor device 110 _(i) interconnects the secondsensor device 110 _(i) to the serving network node 105 _(k) by receivingdata from the second sensor device 110 _(i) over the relay link (betweenthe first and second sensor devices 110 _(i)) and by rebroadcasting thereceived data to the serving network node 105 _(k) over the direct link(between the first sensor device 110 _(i) and the serving network node105 _(k)).

With reference now to FIG. 2, an IoT procedure 200 according to anembodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in terms offunctional modules. It is pointed out that the use of the term “module”is herein intended to emphasize functional (rather than implementation)aspects thereof. Indeed, without losing of generality, each module maybe implemented by software (in which case, the resulting IoT procedure200 would be performed by proper code means included in a computerprogram, when the program is run on a computer), hardware, and/or acombination thereof. Moreover, the modules may also reflect, at leastconceptually, the physical structure of the network node 105 _(k) (or ofits IoT unit). However, the modules may have, by the physical viewpoint,distributed nature, it being understood that, by the logical viewpoint,they are all part of that IoT unit, wherever (and in whichever way)their physical implementation actually takes place. According to anembodiment of the present invention, and as herein assumed from now on,an IoT unit physically residing in each network node 105 _(k) isprovided.

As visible in FIG. 2, the IoT procedure 200 comprises three phases,broadly summarized herebelow and better discussed in the following:

-   -   acquisition phase (module 205): acquisition by each network node        105 _(k) of information (hereinafter, sensor device information)        about each sensor device 110 _(i) associated with (e.g., served        by) that network node 105 _(k);    -   recognition phase (module 210): identification, among the sensor        devices 110 _(i), of candidate network additional nodes        (preferably according to the sensor device information (or a        part thereof)), discovery of candidate supported sensor devices        on behalf of which the candidate network additional nodes can        potentially perform data relaying, and election, among the        candidate network additional nodes and the candidate supported        sensor devices associated therewith, of network additional nodes        and supported sensor devices according to a radio quality of the        direct and relay links between the sensor devices and the        associated network nodes and between the supported sensor        devices and the associated network additional nodes,        respectively. Preferably, the radio quality is determined (e.g.,        measured and/or estimated) based on synchronization signals,        hereinafter SS signals (and/or, according to alternative        embodiments of the present invention, based on different        signals, such as reference signals), and more preferably the        determined radio quality is received via the physical random        access channel (hereinafter, PRACH channel). The radio quality        measures performed by the network devices on the SS signals or        on the reference signals (RS) may include for example measures        of “Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio” (SINR), received        signal power (e.g., the “Reference Signal Received Power”—RSRP)        or received signal quality (e.g., the “Reference Signal Received        Quality”—RSRQ). Even more preferably, the SS signals comprise        primary SS signals (hereinafter P-SS signals), which are        transmitted by the network node 105 _(k) to each sensor device,        and secondary SS signals (hereinafter S-SS signals), which are        transmitted by a candidate network additional node to each        candidate supported sensor device, and the PRACH channel        comprises a primary physical random access channel (hereinafter        P-PRACH channel) for transmitting the radio quality of the        direct link (other than for sending transmission requests) to        the network node 105 _(k) and a secondary physical random access        channel (hereinafter S-PRACH channel) for transmitting the radio        quality of the relay link (other than for sending transmission        requests) to the network additional node—in other words, the        P-SS signals and P-PRACH channels are used to establish (and,        preferably, maintain) a direct connection between the sensor        devices 110 _(i) and the associated network node 105 _(k),        whereas the S-SS signals and S-PRACH channels are used to        establish (and, preferably, maintain) a direct connection        between the supported sensor devices 110 _(i) and the network        additional nodes; and    -   configuration phase (module 215): configuration, by the network        node 105 _(k), of the network additional nodes and of the        supported sensor devices.

Acquisition Phase

Broadly speaking, the sensor device information comprises informationabout conditions and functionalities of each sensor device 110 _(i).

Preferably, each sensor device 110 _(i) transmits the sensor deviceinformation to the associated network node 105 _(k) during its firstconnection to it—in any case, as will be better appreciated from thefollowing discussion of exemplary sensor device information, some sensordevice information is advantageously updated during sensor device 110_(i) life.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor deviceinformation comprises at least one (preferably, all) among:

-   -   Group ID, i.e. an identifier that allows the network node 105        _(k) to identify a sensor device network DN_(x) to which each        sensor device 110 _(i) belongs. The sensor devices 110 _(i)        having the same sensor device information “Group ID” may share        data traffic and energy consumption profiles, as they belong to        a same sensor device network DN_(x). Indeed, in the exemplary        case of a sensor device network DN_(x) having a group of sensor        devices 110 _(i) belonging to a same user, the common interest        of maximizing the duration of the battery of each sensor device        110 _(i) powered by a battery and, in general, of minimizing the        overall energy consumption of all the sensor devices 110 _(i)        belonging to that sensor device network DN_(x) is expected to be        pursued. The sensor device information “Group ID” may be        considered as a static sensor device information—i.e. an        information that does not change over time and that is        transmitted only during a registration of the sensor device 110        _(i) (for example, during its first connection to the network        node 105 _(k));    -   Supported Channels and Signals, i.e. the physical channels and        signals that the sensor device 110 _(i) supports for data        transmission and/or reception, the physical channels and signals        including for example the P-PRACH channel, the S-PRACH channel,        the P-SS signals, the S-SS signals, the physical downlink        control channel (hereinafter PDCCH channel), the physical uplink        control channel (hereinafter PUCCH channel), the physical        broadcast channel (hereinafter PBCH channel) or a subset        thereof. As better understood in the following discussion of        preferred embodiments of the present invention, the physical        channels and signals that each sensor device 110 _(i) supports        for data transmission and/or reception may be used by the        network node 105 _(k) to discriminate the sensor devices 110        _(i) eligible as candidate network additional nodes from the        sensor devices 110 _(i) not eligible as candidate network        additional nodes. The sensor device information “Supported        Channels and Signals” may be considered as a static sensor        device information—i.e. an information that does not change over        time and that is transmitted only during a registration of the        sensor device 110 _(i) (for example, during its first connection        to the network node 105 _(k));    -   Connected, i.e. an indication (for example, a flag) indicating        the connection of the sensor device 110 _(i) to a power supply        (for example, the flag could instead indicate the connection of        the sensor device 110 _(i) to a battery). In other words, the        sensor device information “Connected” allows distinguishing,        among the sensor devices 110 _(i) of the cellular network 100,        those sensor devices 110 _(i) that can be considered as        higher-energy sensor devices from those sensor devices 110 _(i)        that should be considered as lower-energy sensor devices. As        better understood in the following discussion of preferred        embodiments of the present invention, the sensor device        information “Connected” may be used by the network node 105 _(k)        to discriminate the sensor devices 110 _(i) eligible as        candidated network additional nodes from the sensor devices 110        _(i) not eligible as candidate network additional nodes (indeed,        when a sensor device is connected to a power supply, the energy        consumption is not a relevant issue, so that it is potentially        eligible as a candidate network additional node). The sensor        device information “Connected” may be considered as a dynamic        IoT device information—i.e. an information that changes over        time—so that periodic updating thereof is advantageously        provided;    -   Battery Level, i.e. an indication of the level of the battery        charge of those sensor devices 110 _(i) connected to a battery        (instead of a power supply). Preferably, the sensor device        information “Battery Level” allows distinguishing, among the        sensor devices 110 _(i) connected to a battery, those sensor        devices 110 _(i) that, having a high or relatively high level of        battery charge (for example, higher than a first level of        battery charge), can be considered as higher-energy sensor        devices, and those sensor devices 110 _(i) that, having a low or        relatively low level of battery charge (for example, lower than        a second level of battery charge, advantageously lower than the        first level of battery charge) can be considered as lower-energy        sensor devices. Together with the above sensor device        information “Connected”, the sensor device information “Battery        Level” provides an information about energy availability of the        sensor devices 110 _(i), and may be used by the network node 105        _(k) to discriminate the sensor devices 110 _(i) eligible as        candidated network additional nodes from the sensor devices 110        _(i) not eligible as candidate network additional nodes (indeed,        when a sensor device has a relatively high battery charge the        energy consumption is not a relevant issue, so that it is        potentially eligible as a candidate network additional node).        The IoT device information “Battery Level” may be considered as        a dynamic IoT device information—i.e. an information that        changes over time—so that periodic updating thereof is        advantageously provided;    -   Transmission Class, i.e. an indication of the maximum        transmitting power supported by the sensor device 110 _(i).        According to the specific implementation, the sensor device        information “Transmission Class” may be considered, preferably        in combination with one or more other sensor device information,        a discriminant for determining the election of a candidate        network additional node into a network additional node and/or        the election of a candidate supported sensor device into a        supported sensor device. The sensor device information        “Transmission Class” may be considered as a static sensor device        information—i.e. an information that does not change over time        and that is transmitted only during a registration of the sensor        device 110 _(i) (for example, during its first connection to the        network node 105 _(k));    -   Data Upload Period, i.e. an indication about the predefined time        period (if any) within which the sensor device 110 _(i) is        pre-configured to transmit data. The sensor device information        “Data Upload Period” can help the network node 105 _(k) to        predict the activation of the sensor device 110 _(i) and to        pre-allocate the needed radio resources for the data        transmission. The sensor device information “Data Upload Period”        may be considered as a static sensor device information—i.e. an        information that does not change over time and that is        transmitted only during a registration of the sensor device 110        _(i) (for example, during its first connection to the network        node 105 _(k)). As should be understood, some sensor devices        like for example those used to trigger alarms (e.g., fire,        smoke, flooding, intrusion, tamper) may lack the sensor device        information “Data Upload Period”, because their transmission is        typically asyncronous and not predictable.    -   Supported Mobility, i.e. an indication (for example, a flag)        indicating whether the sensor device 110 _(i) is placed in a        fixed position or it can be moved over time (e.g., during        subsequent data transmissions). According to the specific        implementation, the sensor device information “Supported        Mobility” may be considered, preferably in combination with one        or more other sensor device information, a discriminant for        determining the election of a candidate network additional node        into a network additional node and/or the election of a        candidate supported sensor device into a supported sensor        device. The sensor device information “Supported Mobility” may        be considered as a dynamic sensor device information—i.e. an        information that changes over time—so that periodic updating of        thereof is advantageously provided.

The above IoT device information are only examples, and other sensordevice information may be foreseen to better identify the sensor devicespotentially eligible as candidate network additional nodes and thesensor devices actually needing data relaying (or for which datarelaying is appropriate), it being understood that the relevance of eachsensor device information may depend on specific policies (notlimitative for the present invention). By way of example only, the IoTdevice information of a sensor device 110 _(i) may comprise(additionally or alternatively to the above sensor device information)security information about that sensor device 110 _(i) (e.g., a sensordevice 110 _(i) may be involved in carrying sensible data), and thepolicy of forcing that sensor device 110 _(i) to be directly connectedto the associated network node 105 _(k) without data relaying, andindependently of the other sensor device information, could becontemplated.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the acquisitionphase of sensor device information comprises sending, by the networknode 105 _(k), a request message to the associated sensor devices 110_(i) (e.g., on the PBCH or the PDCCH channels), in response to which thesensor device information is transmitted by the sensor devices 110 _(i)to the associated network node 105 _(k) (e.g., on the PUCCH or the PRACHchannels).

Recognition Phase

As visible in FIG. 3, which shows a schematic diagram of the recognitionphase 210 according to an embodiment of the present invention, therecognition phase 210 comprises at least one among (preferably, all) thesteps discussed herebelow.

1) Identification step 305: one or more candidate network additionalnodes and one or more candidate supported sensor devices are identifiedamong the sensor devices 110 _(i), preferably according to the sensordevice information (or a part thereof). According to an embodiment ofthe present invention, a first sensor device 110 _(i) is identified as acandidate network additional node if (e.g., according to the sensordevice information “Supported Channels and Signals”) it supports datatransmission of the S-SS signals and data reception on the P-PRACH andS-PRACH channels (or at least data reception on the S-PRACH channel),and a second sensor device 110 _(i) is identified as a candidatesupported sensor device for that candidate network additional node if(e.g., according to the sensor device information “Supported Channelsand Signals”) it supports data transmission on the P-PRACH and S-PRACHchannels and data reception of the S-SS signals besides the P-SSsignals.

Additionally (as in the preferred embodiment herein considered), oralternatively, a first sensor device 110 _(i) is identified as acandidate network additional node if (e.g., according to the sensordevice information “Connected” and “Battery Level”), it is ahigher-energy sensor device, and a second sensor device 110 _(i) isidentified as a candidate supported sensor device for that candidatenetwork additional node if (e.g., according to the sensor deviceinformation “Connected” and “Battery Level”) it is a lower-energy sensordevice. More generally, a first sensor device 110 _(i) may be identifiedas a candidate network additional node for a second sensor device (whichthus becomes a candidate supported sensor device for that candidatenetwork additional node) if the energy availability of the first sensordevice 110 _(i) is higher than the energy availability of the secondsensor device 110 _(i) (which translates, in case of both first andsecond sensor devices powered by a battery, in the condition of batterylevel of the first sensor device higher than the first level of batterycharge and battery level of the second sensor device lower than thesecond level of battery charge, wherein the second level of batterycharge is at most equal or lower than the first level of batterycharge).

2) Discovery step 310: for each network node 105 _(k), an indication ofa radio quality of each direct link between each sensor device and thatnetwork node 105 _(k) (hereinafter, direct link radio quality) and anindication of a radio quality of each relay link between each candidatesupported sensor device and the associated candidate network additionalnode (hereinafter, relay link radio quality) are received at thatnetwork node 105 _(k). In order to achieve that:

-   -   according to a first embodiment of the present invention        (referred to as autonomous discovery step), each sensor device        110 _(i) is configured to send, to the network node 105 _(k) and        on the P-PRACH channel, requests of radio resources for data        transmission (transmission attempts) and, preferably, the direct        link radio quality (the direct link radio quality of each sensor        device 110 _(i) being preferably based on the P-SS signals from        the network node 105 _(k) and previously received at that sensor        device 110 _(i)), whereas the (or each) candidate network        additional node is configured to listen (i.e., to intercept),        e.g. for a predetermined period (hereinfater referred to as        listening period, and preferably configured by higher network        layers), the transmission attempts and the direct link radio        quality, and then to signal them to the network node 105 _(k)        together with relay link radio quality. The relay link radio        quality of the relay link between each candidate supported        sensor device and the associated candidate network additional        node is preferably based on the quality of the reception, at the        candidate network additional node, of the transmission attempts        and of the direct link radio quality directed to the network        node 105 _(k) and intercepted by the candidate network        additional node. Additionally or alternatively, the relay link        radio quality of the relay link between each candidate supported        sensor device and the associated candidate network additional        node is based on the S-SS signals transmitted from the candidate        network additional node to the candidate supported sensor        device;    -   according to a second embodiment of the present invention        (referred to as assisted discovery step), additional or        alternative to the first embodiment, each sensor device 110 _(i)        is configured (e.g., by the network node 105 _(k)) to send, on        the P-PRACH channel, the first transmission attempt together        with the direct link radio quality to the network node 105 _(k)        (the direct link radio quality of the direct link between the        network node 105 _(k) and each sensor device 110 _(i) being        preferably based on the P-SS signals from the network node 105        _(k) and received at the sensor device 110 _(i)), and, in        presence of a feedback about said first transmission attempt,        the sensor device 110 _(i) is configured (e.g., by the network        node 105 _(k)) to perform the subsequent transmission attempts        to the candidate additional network node on the S-PRACH channel        together with the relay link radio quality (the relay link radio        quality being preferably based on the S-SS signals from the        candidate network additional node received by the sensor device        110 _(i)). Preferably, since multiple sensor devices 110 _(i)        are configured with a S-PRACH channel, after a predetermined        time-out period the sensor devices 110 _(i) that did not receive        a feedback about their transmission attempts (provided earlier        on the S-PRACH channel) can fall back to a new transmission        attempt (or more thereof) on the P-PRACH channel.

Preferably, regardless of the used (autonomous or assisted) discoverystep, sensor devices 110 _(i) associated with different network nodes105 _(k) can be handled by a single candidate network additional node.This could be the case of, for example, a candidate network additionalnode that discovers in its proximity (i.e., it receives the transmissionattempts from) a sensor device 110 _(i) that is under the coverage of anetwork node 105 _(k) different from the serving network node for thatcandidate network additional node—hereinafter referred to as non-servingnetwork node. In the exemplary scenario of FIG. 1 wherein the networknode 105 ₂ acts as serving network node for the sensor device 110 ₁₇ andthe network node 105 ₁ acts as serving network node for the sensordevice 110 ₁₄, this could be the case of, for example, the sensor device110 ₁₄ that discovers in its proximity (i.e., it receives thetransmission attempts from) the sensor device 110 ₁₇ (in which case thenetwork node 105 ₂ acts as non-serving network node for the sensordevice 110 ₁₄). A candidate network additional node may discover in itsproximity a sensor device 110 _(i) (hereinafter external sensor device)that is under the coverage of a network node 105 _(k) different from theserving network node (i.e., non-serving network node) for that candidatenetwork additional node when, for example, the two network nodes arecoordinated and are able to configure the same radio resources for theP-PRACH or for the S-PRACH channels. In this case, the candidate networkadditional node may receive the relay link radio quality from theexternal sensor device on the P-PRACH channel (autonomous discoverystep) or on the S-PRACH channel (assisted discovery step). Since thecandidate network additional node ignores that the external sensordevice is served by a different network node 105 _(k), the relay linkradio quality may be reported by the candidate network additional nodeto its own serving network node (i.e., the network node that is servingthe candidate network additional node), which in turn may route to thecorrect network node 105 _(k) the reported relay link radio quality.

3) Election step 315: the (or each) candidate network additional nodeand the related supported sensor device are elected (preferably, by thenetwork node 105 _(k)) as network additional node and supported sensordevice, respectively, according to the radio quality of the respectivedirect and relay links. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, each candidate network additional node and a relatedcandidate supported sensor device are elected as network additional nodeand supported sensor device, respectively, based on a comparison betweenthe associated relay link and direct link radio quality. For example,each candidate network additional node and a related candidate supportedsensor device are elected as network additional node and supportedsensor device, respectively, if said comparison results in a quality ofthe relay link between that candidate supported sensor device and thatcandidate network additional node higher than the quality of the directlink between that candidate supported sensor device and the network node105 _(k). Preferably, although not necessarily, the election of the (oreach) candidate network additional node and the related candidatesupported sensor device(s) as network additional node and supportedsensor device(s), respectively, takes place by means of a cellreselection message sent from the network node 105 _(k) to each networkadditional node and supported sensor device so as to inform them oftheir election for data relaying.

Therefore, according to the preferred embodiment discussed above of theIoT procedure 200, one or more higher-energy sensor devices experiencingbetter radio conditions are selected to relay the data of respective oneor more lower-energy sensor devices experiencing worse radio conditionsto the associated network node 105 _(k)—as opposed to conventionalcellular networks including sensor devices, wherein the lower-energysensor devices experiencing worse radio conditions are instead connecteddirectly only to the associated network node.

This helps reducing the number of radio transmission attempts and of thepower consumption of the (e.g., lower-energy) sensor devicesexperiencing worse radio conditions, which, instead of being connecteddirectly to the network node 105 _(k), are connected to a proper (e.g.,higher-energy) sensor device which relays the data to the network node105 _(k) using a higher efficient radio link.

FIG. 4 is a simplified swim-lane representation of the recognition phase210, and particularly of the autonomous and assisted discovery steps,according to an embodiment of the present invention. For ease ofdescription and representation, only the network node 105 ₁ isconsidered and only a subset of the sensor devices 110 _(i) associatedwith the network node 105 ₁ are considered (for example, the sensordevices 110 ₁-110 ₃), it being understood that the recognition phase isadvantageously intended to be carried out at each network node 105 _(k)and involve all the sensor devices 110 _(i) associated therewith (aswell as those in proximity thereto, as discussed above in connectionwith the case of sensor devices 110 _(i) associated with differentnetwork nodes 105 _(k) but handled by a single candidate networkadditional node).

In the example of FIG. 4 the sensor device 110 ₁ is assumed to be thecandidate network additional node and the sensor devices 110 ₂ and 110 ₃are assumed to be the candidate supported sensor devices (in any case,as mentioned above, according to specific policies, the relevance of oneor more sensor device information may also involve that one or moresensor devices 110 _(i) of a sensor device network DN_(x) are regardedneither as candidate network additional nodes nor as candidate supportedsensor devices). In addition, only the sensor devices 110 ₁ and 110 ₃are assumed to support data transmission on both P-PRACH and S-PRACHchannels, whereas the sensor device 110 ₂ is assumed to support datatransmission only on the P-PRACH channel (reason why the network node105 ₁ and the candidate network additional node 110 ₁ are assumed tocarry out the autonomous discovery step for the candidate supported node110 ₂ and the assisted discovery step for the candidate supported node110 ₃).

The autonomous discovery step of the example of FIG. 4 can be summarizedas follows.

The network node 105 ₁ receives, on the P-PRACH channel, thetransmission attempts of the candidate supported sensor device 110 ₂(step 310 a ₁) together with the direct link radio quality relating tothe direct link between the network node 105 ₁ and the candidatesupported sensor device 110 ₂ (denoted by “QD2” in the figure). Duringthe predetermined listening period, the candidate network additionalnode 110 ₁ intercepts (i.e., receives) these transmission attempts (step310 a ₂) and determines the relay link radio quality (relating to therelay link between the candidate supported sensor device 110 ₂ and thecandidate network additional node 110 ₁) according to the quality of theintercepted transmission attempts. At a later time, the candidatenetwork additional node 110 ₁ reports (step 310 a ₃) to the network node105 ₁ the relay link radio quality (denoted by “QR2” in the figure).

The assisted discovery step of the example of FIG. 4 can be summarizedas follows.

The network node 105 ₁ receives, preferably on the P-PRACH channel, afirst transmission attempt (or a first set of transmission attempts)from the candidate supported sensor device 110 ₃, together with thedirect link radio quality relating to the direct link between thenetwork node 105 ₁ and the candidate supported sensor device 110 ₃(denoted by “QD3” in the figure)—step 310 b 1.

Then, the network node 105 ₁ sends, preferably on the PDCCH channel, afeedback about said first transmission attempt (step 310 b ₂).Preferably, as illustrated, the network node 105 ₁ sends the feedback tothe candidate supported sensor device 110 ₃, said feedback preferablycomprising configuration signalling for configuring the candidatesupported sensor device 110 ₃ to transmit the subsequent transmissionattempts (or a set of transmission attempts following the firsttransmission attempt or the first set of transmission attempts) to thecandidate network additional node 110 ₁ (rather than to the network node105 ₁), and preferably on the S-PRACH channel—step 310 b ₃. Morepreferably, the network node 105 ₁ sends said feedback also to thecandidate network additional node 110 ₁, and even more preferably saidfeedback also comprises configuration signalling for configuring thecandidate network additional node 110 ₁ to determine, according to thequality of the received subsequent transmission attempts, the relay linkradio quality relating to the relay link between the candidate supportedsensor device 110 ₃ and the candidate network additional node 110 ₁. Ata later time, the candidate network additional node 110 ₁ reports to thenetwork node 105 ₁ the relay link radio quality (denoted by “QR3” in thefigure) of the relay link between the candidate supported sensor device110 ₃ and the candidate network additional node 110 ₁—step 310 b 4.

Preferably, in absence of said feedback from the network node 105 ₁ atthe candidate supported sensor device 110 ₃ (e.g., after a predeterminedtime-out period from the transmission attempts), the candidate supportedsensor device 110 ₃ may be configured (e.g., by the network node 105 ₁)to transmit (i.e., to keep on transmitting) the subsequent transmissionattempts to the network node 105 ₁ on the P-PRACH channel, and thecandidate network additional node 110 ₁ may be configured (e.g., by thenetwork node 105 ₁) to intercept (e.g., for a predetermined listeningperiod) said subsequent transmission attempts, and to determine therelay link radio quality relating to the relay link between thecandidate supported sensor device 110 ₃ and the candidate networkadditional node 110 ₁ according to the quality of the interceptedsubsequent transmission attempts—in other words, as mentioned above,after a predetermined time-out period, the sensor devices 110 _(i) thatdid not receive a feedback about their transmission attempts on theS-PRACH channel fall back to a new transmission attempt (or morethereof) on the P-PRACH channel. At a later time, the candidate networkadditional node 110 ₁ reports to the network node 105 ₁ the relay linkradio quality measurements.

Configuration Phase

The configuration phase 215 comprises at least one among (preferably,all) the steps discussed herebelow:

-   -   a resource assignment message is sent by the network node 105        _(k), preferably both to the network additional node and to each        related supported sensor device. Preferably, the resource        assignment message is transmitted on the PDCCH channel.        Advantageously, the resource assignment message also contains        the information on the radio resources reserved for Downlink and        Uplink data transmission on the relay link. More advantageously,        the reserved radio resources comprise a group of radio resources        specifically identified as able to reduce power consumption        during data transmission and/or reception—in any case, when the        S-SS signals and S-PRACH channels are used, the P-SS signals and        P-PRACH channel configurations are preferably held in a memory        of the sensor device (especially during sleep periods thereof),        such that when a sensor device wakes up after a relatively long        sleep (e.g. several hours) and the S-SS signals and S-PRACH        channel configurations (for that sensor device) are meanwhile        changed (e.g., due to changes in the cellular network        configuration because of sensor device mobility or changed        propagation conditions), a loss of connectivity for that sensor        device can be avoided by using the P-SS signals and P-PRACH        channels as fall back assuming that the sensor device is still        camped on the same network node; and    -   the network additional node starts to transmit periodically the        S-SS signals, which are received by the supported sensor device        and used to carry out synchronization with the network        additional node.

Therefore, when the supported sensor device tries to perform radioresource requests on the S-PRACH channel, the connection is handleddirectly by the network additional node, which can schedule thesupported sensor device in the radio resources of the PUSCH/PDSCHchannels reserved during the previous step and signalled using theresource assignment message, thereafter the received message from thesupported sensor device is preferably relayed from the networkadditional node to the network node 105 _(k) using the radio resourcesof the PUSCH channel normally scheduled by the network node 105 _(k).

Back to the scenario discussed above of a (candidate) network additionalnode (the sensor device 110 ₁₄, in the example at issue) that discoversin its proximity a sensor device (or external sensor device, such as thesensor device 110 ₁₇ in the example at issue) that is under the coverageof a network node (the network node 105 ₂ in the example at issue)different from the network node (the network node 105 ₁ in the exampleat issue) acting as serving network node for that candidate networkadditional node (non-serving network node 105 ₂ and serving network node105 ₁, respectively), the decision between the direct link and the relaylink for data transmission/reception (i.e., the decision of whether the(candidate) network additional node having discovered the externalsensor device may in turn act as additional network node also for thatexternal sensor device) is preferably taken by the network node 105 _(k)that receives the transmission attempts from the sensor device 110 _(i)on the P-PRACH channel (i.e., the non-serving network node 105 ₂ in theexample at issue), preferably after being informed by the servingnetwork node (105 _(i) in the example at issue) about the availabilityof a candidate network additional node (110 ₁₄ in the example at issue)connected to the same serving network node (105 ₁ in the example atissue) providing the above information to the non-serving network node(105 ₂ in the example at issue). In case that a relay link for datatransmission is decided for the external sensor device (i.e., the(candidate) network additional node having discovered the externalsensor device is selected as network additional node for that externalsensor device), both non-serving and serving network nodes (or one ormore higher hierarchical decision units) decide about the radioresources to reserve for the channels of the relay link (e.g., S-SSsignals and S-PRACH channels), thereafter the serving network node sendsa respective resource assignment message to the network additional node(so as to inform it will act as the network additional node for theexternal sensor device) and the non-serving network node sends arespective resource redirection message to the external sensor device(that is, external from the serving network node viewpoint) to inform itabout the P-SS signals and P-RACH channels of the serving network nodeand about data relaying carried out by the associated network additionalnode on behalf of it (providing the external sensor device with thecorresponding S-SS signals and S-PRACH channels).

Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a personskilled in the art may apply to the invention described above manylogical and/or physical modifications and alterations. Morespecifically, although the present invention has been described with acertain degree of particularity with reference to preferred embodimentsthereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutionsand changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments arepossible. In particular, different embodiments of the invention may evenbe practiced without the specific details set forth in the precedingdescription for providing a more thorough understanding thereof; on thecontrary, well-known features may have been omitted or simplified inorder not to encumber the description with unnecessary details.Moreover, it is expressly intended that specific elements and/or methodsteps described in connection with any disclosed embodiment of theinvention may be incorporated in any other embodiment.

More specifically, the present invention lends itself to be implementedthrough an equivalent method (by using similar steps, removing somesteps being not essential, or adding further optional steps); moreover,the steps may be performed in different order, concurrently or in aninterleaved way (at least partly).

In addition, analogous considerations apply if the cellular network hasa different structure or comprises equivalent components, or it hasother operating features. In any case, any component thereof may beseparated into several elements, or two or more components may becombined into a single element; in addition, each component may bereplicated for supporting the execution of the corresponding operationsin parallel. It should also be noted that any interaction betweendifferent components generally does not need to be continuous (unlessotherwise indicated), and it may be both direct and indirect through oneor more intermediaries.

1. A method for configuring a wireless network, wherein the wirelessnetwork comprises a network node and a first network device undercoverage of the network node, the network node acting as serving networknode for the first network device, and the first network device beingarranged for transmitting first data to the network node over a firstradio link, wherein the method comprises: determining the presence of asecond network device under coverage of said network node, the secondnetwork device being arranged for transmitting second data to arespective serving network node over a second radio link, determining aradio quality of the first radio link, determining a radio quality ofthe second radio link, determining a radio quality of a third radio linkbetween the second network device and the first network device, and ifthe radio quality of the third radio link is higher than the radioquality of the second radio link, configuring the second network deviceto transmit the second data to the first network device over the thirdradio link and the first network device to retransmit, over the firstradio link, said second data to the network node, wherein the wirelessnetwork supports first synchronization signals and a first physicalrandom access channel for establishing a direct connection between thefirst network device and the network node and between the second networkdevice and the respective serving network node, and secondsynchronization signals and a second physical random access channel forestablishing a direct connection between the first network device andthe second network device, and wherein said configuring the secondnetwork device to transmit the second data to the first network deviceover the third radio link and the first network device to retransmit,over the first radio link, said second data to the network node iscarried out if the first network device supports at least transmissionof the second synchronization signals and reception on the secondphysical random access channel, and the second network device supportsat least transmission on the first physical random access channel and onthe second physical random access channel and reception of the secondsynchronization signals.
 2. The method according to claim 1, whereinsaid determining a radio quality of a third radio link comprises:causing the second network device to transmit, to the network node (105_(k)) and on the first physical random access channel, requests of radioresources and the radio quality of the second radio link, causing thefirst network device to intercept said requests of radio resources andsaid radio quality of the second radio link, and causing the firstnetwork device to determine the radio quality of the third radio linkbased on the quality of said intercepted requests of radio resources andsaid intercepted radio quality of the second radio link.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said determining a radio quality of athird radio link comprises: causing the second network device totransmit, to the network node and on the first physical random accesschannel, a first set of requests of radio resources and the radioquality of the second radio link, and in presence of a feedback of thenetwork node at the second network device about said transmitted firstset of requests of radio resources: causing the second network device totransmit subsequent requests of radio resources following the first setof requests of radio resources to the first network device on the secondphysical random access channel channel, and causing the first networkdevice to determine the radio quality of the third radio link based on aquality of the received subsequent requests of radio resources.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein said determining a radio quality ofa third radio link comprises: causing the second network device totransmit, to the network node and on the first physical random accesschannel, a first set of requests of radio resources and the radioquality of the second radio link, and, in absence of a feedback of thenetwork node at the second network device about said first set ofrequests of radio resources: causing the second network device totransmit subsequent requests of radio resources following the first setof requests of radio resources to the network node on the first physicalrandom access channel, causing the first network device to interceptsaid subsequent requests of radio resources, and determining the radioquality of the third radio link based on the quality of the interceptedsubsequent requests of radio resources.
 5. The method according to claim2, wherein determining the radio quality of the third radio link is alsobased on evaluation of the second synchronization signals transmittedfrom the first network device to the second network device.
 6. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the network node acts as servingnetwork node also for the second network device, and wherein saidconfiguring the second network device to transmit the second data to thefirst network device over the third radio link and the first networkdevice to retransmit, over the first radio link, said second data to thenetwork node further comprises: causing the network node to send a firstresource assignment message to the first network device and a secondresource assignment message to the second network device; causing thefirst network device to transmit periodically the second synchronizationsignals, and causing the second network device to synchronize with thefirst network device according to the received second synchronizationsignals.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second resourceassignment message also contains the information on reserved radioresources that are reserved for Downlink and Uplink data transmission onthe third radio link.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein thewireless network comprises a further network node, the further networknode acting as serving network node for the second network device, andwherein the method further comprises causing the network node to informthe further network node about the availability of the first networkdevice to which the second network device can transmit the second dataover the third radio link.
 9. The method to claim 8, wherein saidconfiguring the second network device to transmit the second data to thefirst network device over the third radio link and the first networkdevice to retransmit, over the first radio link, said second data to thenetwork node further comprises: causing the network node to send aresource assignment message to the first network device, causing thefurther network node to send a resource redirection message to thesecond network device; causing the first network device to transmitperiodically the second synchronization signals, and causing the secondnetwork device to synchronize with the first network device according tothe received second synchronization signals.
 10. The method according toclaim 2, wherein the radio quality of the first radio link is based onthe first synchronization signals from the network node to the firstnetwork device, and wherein the radio quality of the second radio linkis based on the first synchronization signals from the respectiveserving network node to the second network device.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising determining an energyavailability of the first network device and an energy availability ofthe second network device, wherein said configuring the second networkdevice to transmit the second data to the first network device over thethird radio link and the first network device to retransmit, over thefirst radio link, said second data to the network node is carried out ifthe energy availability of the first network device is higher than theenergy availability of the second network device.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said configuring the second network deviceto transmit the second data to the first network device over the thirdradio link and the first network device to retransmit, over the firstradio link, said second data to the network node is carried out alsobased on at least one among: an indication of a device network to whichthe first and second network devices belong; an indication of a maximumtransmitting power supported by the first and second network devices; anindication about predefined transmission time periods of the first andsecond network devices; and an indication of position and mobility ofthe first and second network devices.
 13. A network node for use in awireless network, wherein the wireless network comprises a network nodeand a first network device under coverage of the network node, thenetwork node acting as serving network node for the first networkdevice, and the first network device being arranged for transmittingfirst data to the network node over a first radio link, wherein thenetwork node is arranged for: determining the presence of a secondnetwork device under coverage of said network node, the second networkdevice being arranged for transmitting second data to a respectiveserving network node over a second radio link, determining a radioquality of the first radio link, determining a radio quality of thesecond radio link, determining a radio quality of a third radio linkbetween the second network device and the first network device, and ifthe radio quality of the third radio link is higher than the radioquality of the second radio link, configuring the second network deviceto transmit the second data to the first network device over the thirdradio link and the first network device to retransmit, over the firstradio link, said second data to the network node, the wireless networksupports first synchronization signals and a first physical randomaccess channel for establishing a direct connection between the firstnetwork device and the network node and between the second networkdevice and the respective serving network node, and secondsynchronization signals and a second physical random access channel forestablishing a direct connection between the first network device andthe second network device, and wherein said configuring the secondnetwork device to transmit the second data to the first network deviceover the third radio link and the first network device to retransmit,over the first radio link, said second data to the network node iscarried out if the first network device supports at least transmissionof the second synchronization signals and reception on the secondphysical random access channel, and the second network device supportsat least transmission on the first physical random access channel and onthe second physical random access channel and reception of the secondsynchronization signals.
 14. A device network for use in a wirelessnetwork, wherein the device network comprises a first network devicearranged for transmitting first data over a first radio link, and asecond network device arranged for transmitting second data over asecond radio link, wherein with the first and second network devicesunder coverage of a network node of the cellular network, and with thenetwork node acting as serving network node for the first networkdevice: if the radio quality of the third radio link is higher than theradio quality of the second radio link, the second network device isarranged for transmitting the second data to the first network deviceover the third radio link and the first network device is arranged forretransmitting, over the first radio link, said second data to thenetwork node, wherein the wireless network supports firstsynchronization signals and a first physical random access channel forestablishing a direct connection between the first network device andthe network node and between the second network device and therespective serving network node, and second synchronization signals anda second physical random access channel for establishing a directconnection between the first network device and the second networkdevice, and wherein said arranging the second network device fortransmitting the second data to the first network device over the thirdradio link and the first network device to retransmit, over the firstradio link, said second data to the network node is carried out if thefirst network device supports at least transmission of the secondsynchronization signals and reception on the second physical randomaccess channel, and the second network device supports at leasttransmission on the first physical random access channel and on thesecond physical random access channel and reception of the secondsynchronization signals.